Nelson, who retired in 2012 as executive director of the National Limousine Association after serving six years as its leader and two years as deputy executive director, said she was getting “itchy” after a year of retirement.

“I was asked! And the timing was right,” Nelson said. “After a bit more than a year of retirement, I was getting "itchy" so things just dovetailed. The parameters of the job appear to be a good fit for me at this point,” she added.

Nelson said that her primary goal is to provide both operator and supplier members with the “greatest possible value” for their commitment of membership. “Primarily, this means offering multiple ways for members to: one, make money, and two, save money. So figuring out additional money-making and money-saving ways to what LANJ membership currently includes will be a prime initial focus — and certainly a challenge,” she added.

Given her industry and association leadership and management experience, Nelson said that during her tenure as NLA executive director, the association enjoyed a “lot of success stories … from ramping up the quantity and quality of member communications, to attracting significant non-dues revenue, to developing committees that launched numerous new membership-value initiatives.”

Known as a tireless executive who led the NLA through a period of strong growth and efficiencies, Nelson takes over the LANJ leadership position from Barry Lefkowitz, who will remain with LANJ as its statewide political lobbyist. Lefkowitz became executive director of LANJ in 2009 after working almost a decade as the lobbyist for the NLA.

Nelson will work out of her home in Philadelphia and travel to association and industry meetings and events.